Jamia protest: Congress MP Imran Masood detained, SP MP alleges manhandling by police

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Friday detained Congress MP Imran Masood after he joined the students' protest at Jamia Milia University.

"I can even give my life for my children. These are my children and the future of my country. Attempts are being made to crush their rights. The students have been expelled from the university. Why is the student union not being restored? What exactly is the reason that you do not want to reinstate the student union?" Masood said.

"I can even give my life for my children. These are my children and the future of my country. Attempts are being made to crush their rights. The students have been expelled from the university. Why is the student union not being restored? What exactly is the reason that you do not want to reinstate the student union?" he added.

Additionally, Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi also alleged that the police detained him on Friday while he was en route to meet Jamia Millia Islamia students protesting the restoration of their students' union on campus. The Rampur MP told PTI that police pushed and manhandled him and detained him, while he was raising his voice for the rights of the students. He also said, as a Jamia alumnus, it is his duty to support students' rights. Nadvi was later released.

The development comes amid an ongoing student agitation demanding the restoration of student union elections. The university administration has formed a committee to draft a new student union constitution. However, the protesting students have maintained that their primary demand is an official notification announcing the election schedule.

The protest saw unrest on October 17 when authorities attempted to remove demonstrators from Jamia's Ghalib lawn at gate number 7. Several student organisations have since backed students' demands. Campus security has also been tightened, with students undergoing checks before being allowed entry into departments and centres.